Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-02-12
NOTHING FOR

NOTHING FOR DAKOTA.
The caption Of this article is not a
new one;;. it has been frequently used
by almost every newspaper in the terri
tory in connection with the subject
herein discussed. The INTER OCEAN
has used it several times; hut in calling
1t into requisi'ion again we propose to
attempt the task Of explaining why
there Is nothing for Dakota"
In the first place, Dakota Is divided
within and against i,seIf-not that kind
Of division, however, that many IF us
wish and continue to hope for. Th.
two great divisions in Dakota are the
divisioni>ts and the anti divisionists;
within these are smaller factional divis-
ions, and even the factions are rent and
shattered by internal factions, and these
internal factions are split up into per-
sonal cliques and fullowings, until a per.
petual panic seems to prevail, and the
political fabric is dishevelel.; and the
body polite disorganzed. We're We
called upon to design u statue repre-
senting the political condition Of Da.
kota, we should recommend u repre-.
sentation Of half u bushel Of wooden
too.hpicks dumped rampant upon HI
open plain.
On the Other hand, congress don't
care whether anything is done FIR Da-
kota or not. The best informed men,
bers point to our factions and divisions
and say that is Il reason why moth
ing is done. Three-fourths of the lower
house members are totally ignorant on
the subject of Dakota's importance and
Dakota's wants. This il not the fault
Of our delegate or his predecessors. l,
is the fault of the ignorant congress-.
men. Their interest in public affairs
does not reach beyond the limits Of
their own districts. To most of the
house members the $5OOO per annum
which they receive il Il "bonanza," and
they spend the session contrlving BY
every manner Of means to get back
again. A prominent Ohio political, II
told us recently that there are u doze,,
members in the house who don't know
whether Dakota is one thousand or tel
thousand miles away from Washington;
don't know whether Alaska il the CAPT
tai OF Dakota or Dakota the capital ot
Alaska,-and they don't care. Our del.
egate has nc voice in legislation. He
represents 100000 industrious and in.
telligent people, and yet he doesn't re.
present them, for he is not permitted to
vote. He may 60 before the commit
tees and argue his case, but no matter
how able and eloquent he may be or
how just his cause, the committees look
lightly upon him-he has no vote.
In the senate, where palpable inertia
always prevails. unless the question il
upon some great, overshadowing affair
such "a the fishery business or u rail.
road land grant-there is no interest III
Dakota matters beyond determination
ON the part Of the Democrats to keep
the territory out Of the Uni>n, and q
manifest disposition on the part of the
Republicans to make political capital
out Of the narrow policy Of the Democ.
racy.
Thus are the potent necessities and
imminent needs Of Dakota hemmed in
by divisions and dissensions at nome
and Ivy alleged craftsmanship lin Wash
,ngtom. The hope for immediate relieI
is f~orlorn; the prospect for Legislation
in the near future Is not bright.
The remedy lies at home. Bury til.
tactional ha!chets. Wash off the war
paint. Lay aside the weapons which
are nickel and CORY with the blood o
political butts aud jousts Of the past
Fall int, line like civilized people, ben,
upon the s'lccess Of Il good cause. Set
tie our territorial ditferer ces ut the PEG
pies trihunal-the ballot.box IF the
result shall be in favor of division, tn.
minority must acquiesce; if it shall be
for admission AZ Il whol ;, we must nc.
cept the verdict. In either case, the
stumbling block to u progress vii.
have been removed. Then congress.
must listen to our appeal.